Palestinian Authority and popular uprisings

Emad Najjar: Palestinians in West Bank were expected to challenge Mahmoud Abbas the acting head of the Palestinian Authority after the fall of Mubarak regime in Egypt with whom the authority had had cordial relations. Palestinian staged small marches however they were repressed by Mahmoud Abbas regime with US keeping its traditional silence as the nation was not favoring its interests.

Hours after Mubarak’s regime collapsed, hundreds of Palestinians convened in Manara square in Ramallah to celebrate the developments albeit under close watch of Abbas police.

It must not be forgotten however that the senior PA authorities have refused to voice solidarity with Egyptian revolutionists and kept reticence which further reveals how they are angry about the changes in equations in the neighboring country which has played a major role in upgrading the levels of relations between the authority and Israel. THhe authority has also had close relations with former senior Egyptian authorities, inlcucing chief of intelligence, Omar Sulleiman.

Mubarak’s collapse however brought a wave of hope and happiness to Gaza where people are hoping the 5-year siege, enginnered by Israel and Mubarak regime on the enclave would be lifted. The siege has already been a card in hand of the Palestinian Authority to press Hamas in reconciliatory Fatah-Hamas talks.

Feared about a recurrence of the emerging popular revolutions in the Middle East and north Africa, the Palestinian Authority have granted several concessions to people including a decision for a snap local elections as well as parliamentary elections for selection of a new head for the authority.

Senior officials within the authority have already seen their image marred among the public after the release of Wikileaks files which revealed the depth of their cooperation with Israel and betray of the Palestinian nation.

The developments altogether are providing a strong potentiality for a massive popular uprising in West Bank, further marring the position of Abbas and his followers in the eye of Israel.